Flash light



Jan. 17, 1933.

M. H. BENNETT 1,894,606

FLASH LIGHT Filed March 6, 1931 INVENTOR NEYS I relatively cheap ble.

Patented Jan. 17, 1933 Application filed larch 6,

This invention relates to flash lights and an object of this invention is to provide an improved form of li in construction, reliable in operation and to manufacture and assem- This and other objects which will be apparent to those skilled in this particular art are accomplished by means of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing which shows a partial sectional view of a flash light constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention.

In the particular embodiment illustrated,

the prment invention is shown applied to a flash light of the so-called focussin type having a casing threaded at one end to receive the head ,6 carrying the usual reflector 7 and lens 8 mounted therein between an annular shoulder 9 formed on the head and a lens ring 10 which is threaded to the head so as to clamp the reflector. and lens in position. The head also has the usual threaded connection 11 by means of which his secured in place upon the casing so as to permit longitudinal adjustment of the reflector with respectto a lamp 12 mounted in a lamp socket 13 secured to the adjacent closed end 14 of the casing 5. The lamp supporting end 14 of the casing is formed integrally with the casing by s mining or otherwise shaping the metal of e casing itself to form the closed lamp supporting end, the usual opening being left therein to permit the lamp base 15 to extendinto the interior of the casing to engage a contact strip 16 secured to and extending along the inner wall of the ca from which it is insulated by a suitable insulating strip 17.

The usual battery 18 is positioned in the casing and the center battery terminal 19 engages a second conductor strip 20 adjacent to the lamp engaging conductor strip 17 from which it is insulated by a suitable insulating strip 21. The conductors and insulating strips are mounted as a unit upon tubular clamping members 22 which are secured to the casing by suitable closed end rivets 23. The battery engaging strip 20 is provided with an ofl'set portion 24, shown ght which will be simple th mom 1931. Serial No. 520,538.

exaggerated in the drawing, and the insulating strip 21 terminates short of the end of e lamp engaging conductor strip 16 to provlde exposed conductor portions which are ad acent to but spaced slightly from each other. A thumb switch which may be of any desired construction hasan operating member 25 engaging a yieldable spring plate 26 interposed between it and the adjacent por tion of the insulating strip 17 and having a central displaced portion 2 engagin the insulating strip 17, the arrangement ing such that pressure on the switch member presses the spring plate downwardly and the depressed portion 26' moves the conductor strips into engagement with each other to connect the battery and lamp circuit. The end of the stri 16 is provided with a lip 27 or the like so t at only a slight movement or flexing of the strip is necessary to produce, a contact between it and the oflset portion 24 of the battery engaging strip 20. Also, by extending the strip past the operating me ber 25 the movement of the contact pin 27 is Iizgcreased relatively to the operating mem- Prior to being positioned within the easing, the insulating strips 17 and 21, the conductor strips 16 and 20, and the wear plate 26 are mounted upon the tubular members or rivets 22 'to form a unitary assembly which can be positioned as a unit within the easing and secured thereto by the rivets 23 as above described. Insulating washers 28 are employed to insulate the conductor strips from thetubular members 22. The lower end of the casing is closed by the usual screw threaded cap 29 through which connection is made between the casing and the base terminal of the battery which conducts the current to the side of the lamp through the closed end 14 and socket 13.

The assembly of conductor strips is so formed as to extend across the end 14 of the casing and is connected to the casing end by a rivet on the side of the lamp socket opp0-.

site to that on which the main portion of the conductor assembly is mounted. As a result, the assembly is securely held against displacement and the o'fl'set portion 30 between the lamp base and the batter forms a cushion or buffer which protects t e lamp against damaging blows by the batte It will be apparent that forming the c osed end 14 of the casing by suitably shaping the metal of the casing itself provldes, in effect, a sealed end preventing the admission of moisture and the like to the interior of the casing and at the same time forms a conducting support for the lamp socket by means of which the current is carried to one terminal of the lamp.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination in a flash light of a casing, a lamp, a battery, separate conductor strips connected to said lamp and battery respectively, insulating means between said in- February 1931.

MORRIS H. BENNETT.

dividual strips and between said strips and said casing, a resilient wear plate associated with said strips, supporting means for securing said strips, said insulating means and said wear plate together to form a unita assembly and means for supporting sai assembly on the inside of said casing to permit said lamp and battery to be connected, and

operating means enga ing said plate and movable to connect said strips to electrically connect said lamp and battery.

2. The combination in a flash light vof a metallic casing having a substantially closed end, a lamp supported on said closed end and having its base extending into said casing, a battery in said casingand electrically connected thereto, gated conductor strips, an insulating strip interposed'therebetween, means for connecting said strips together to form a unitary assembly, means securing one end of said assembly to the closed end of said casing to 40 electrically connect one conductor strip to metallic casing having said lamp base and the other conductor strip to said battery, means, for securing said assembly to the side of said casing, a second insulating strip forming a part of said assemositioned so as to insulate said assembly rom said casing, and operating means for electrically connecting said conductor strips to light said lamp. 4

3. The combination in a flash 1i ht of a a substantially closed end and a lamp supported on said end, a battery, a pair of insulated conductor strips connected together to form a unitary assembly, means for securing said strips to the side of said casing, means for securing one end of said assembly to the closed end of said casing in such position that said strips extend across the closed end of said casing between said lamp and said battery, and operating means positioned on the side of said casing for connecting said strips to light said lamp. 4. The combination in a flash li ht of a metallic casing having a substantially closed bly and end and a lamp supported on said end, a battery, a pair of insulated conductor strips a pair of superimposed elonlaoi connecting said. 

